Hours after being released from twelve days in an Egyptian prison, Wael Ghoneim has become a hero in the eyes of many Egyptians. “Please don't make a hero out of me,” Ghonim said shortly after returning home. He appeared on television tired and emotionally fragile. “I'm a person who was sleeping for 12 days,” he continued. “The real heroes are those people on the ground, please direct the camera and give the attention to those people.” Ghonim is Google's top executive in Egypt, and he had been missing since demonstrations began on January 25, nearly two weeks ago. His name was frequently on the tongue of activists and mentioned in Twitter posts calling for his release. His detention became a rallying point. Finally, on Monday afternoon, he was released. “After Ghonim's interview, I am re-inspired, recharged, and reminded,” said Sarah Abdelrahman, a student at the American University of Cairo who has been in the streets every day, to Bikya Masr. “It's really difficult to express how I feel in words like hope, passion, et cetera when a lot of people have over used it. But in this context, the situation gives meaning to these words.” Sarah is one of many young people who have gone to the streets in recent weeks to join the demand for thirty-year president Hosni Mubarak to abdicate his position. Ghonim's release has brought a resurgence of energy to the movement. “The Egypt Twittersphere is drowned in tweets of support of Ghonim after his interview and renewed determination to topple a dictatorship,” tweeted Nadia El-Awady. Already a group has sprung up on Facebook calling for Ghonim to become the voice of the people of Tahrir Square. On Monday evening, the group jumped from 3,500 members to over 12,000 in less than half an hour. It seems Ghonim may have unintentionally become the new face of the revolution for many Egyptians. “He is inspiring many,” said prominent tweeter Alaa Abd El Fattah. “I've been terrified this revolution would fade but Ghonim made that impossible,” Menna Amr told Bikya Masr. “Now I know people will never give up until we win this.” Following a twelve-day ordeal in Egypt's prisons, it remains to be seen what Ghonim will do next. “God willing we will change this country,” said Ghonim. BM
